Based on ongoing feedback and reviewing moderation guidelines, I have come up with a proposal to update the current forum rules for the front porch.
Since TBN is more than just a technical forum, we can't ignore the fact that member do enjoy discussion of topics outside of tractors, be it talk about a chainsaw or a dispute with a neighbor. The diversity in viewpoints I mentioned really shines when those topics come up, so we shouldn't try to get everybody to fit into the same opinion boxes. That's why we have a lot of sections that are not tractor-specific. Many other communities follow a similar model for branching beyond the main topic.
My goal in shaping forum rules is to create an environment and a community that is both beneficial and enjoyable to the members. Whether you're new or have been here for 20 years, your contributions are as valuable as the next member, and from my perspective appreciated enough to want to see everybody continue to benefit from those contributions so long as you wish to make them.
In principle, I want to work on moving a shift toward corrective moderation and not punitive, simply because I think it's within all of us to coexist peacefully---at least on a forum.
My proposed update to the current rules for the front porch would look something like this:
- Front Porch Forum remains member-only and not viewable to external search engines.
- Remove all topic restrictions in Front Porch with the exceptions of:
*Adult content
*Illegal activity
*Specific legal, medical, or financial advice ("what worked for me" is fine vs "you can cure cancer with _____" is not fine)
*Trolling/trash post threads (Example: "Anybody who voted for Mickey Mouse is an idiot")
- Limiting each topic to one thread (for example one covid-19 thread, one presidential election thread, etc).
- Inactive threads purged every 30 days to prevent the forum from becoming a million posts of chat.
-Appoint 5-6 new moderators for the front porch only, with the objective of keeping the forum friendly and respectful. The task of reminding members to be respectful and friendly to one another regardless of agreement would fall on these moderators. "Agree to disagree" is a perfectly reasonable sentiment. Name calling, insults, and trolling is not allowed. Moderators would have the ability to soft delete messages that break the general forum rules for politeness or the topic rules above. Moderators would lose their privileges if they delete posts that do not break the stated rules.
- Members would lose access to the front porch if they repeatedly break the rules, mainly relating to conduct.
- Front porch will be excluded from "today's posts" so you would need to access it through the direct forum link.
Let me know your thoughts and feedback, and if you would support this new direction for the front porch.
Since TBN is more than just a technical forum, we can't ignore the fact that member do enjoy discussion of topics outside of tractors, be it talk about a chainsaw or a dispute with a neighbor. The diversity in viewpoints I mentioned really shines when those topics come up, so we shouldn't try to get everybody to fit into the same opinion boxes. That's why we have a lot of sections that are not tractor-specific. Many other communities follow a similar model for branching beyond the main topic.
My goal in shaping forum rules is to create an environment and a community that is both beneficial and enjoyable to the members. Whether you're new or have been here for 20 years, your contributions are as valuable as the next member, and from my perspective appreciated enough to want to see everybody continue to benefit from those contributions so long as you wish to make them.
In principle, I want to work on moving a shift toward corrective moderation and not punitive, simply because I think it's within all of us to coexist peacefully---at least on a forum.
My proposed update to the current rules for the front porch would look something like this:
- Front Porch Forum remains member-only and not viewable to external search engines.
- Remove all topic restrictions in Front Porch with the exceptions of:
*Adult content
*Illegal activity
*Specific legal, medical, or financial advice ("what worked for me" is fine vs "you can cure cancer with _____" is not fine)
*Trolling/trash post threads (Example: "Anybody who voted for Mickey Mouse is an idiot")
- Limiting each topic to one thread (for example one covid-19 thread, one presidential election thread, etc).
- Inactive threads purged every 30 days to prevent the forum from becoming a million posts of chat.
-Appoint 5-6 new moderators for the front porch only, with the objective of keeping the forum friendly and respectful. The task of reminding members to be respectful and friendly to one another regardless of agreement would fall on these moderators. "Agree to disagree" is a perfectly reasonable sentiment. Name calling, insults, and trolling is not allowed. Moderators would have the ability to soft delete messages that break the general forum rules for politeness or the topic rules above. Moderators would lose their privileges if they delete posts that do not break the stated rules.
- Members would lose access to the front porch if they repeatedly break the rules, mainly relating to conduct.
- Front porch will be excluded from "today's posts" so you would need to access it through the direct forum link.
Let me know your thoughts and feedback, and if you would support this new direction for the front porch.
